Peak time of blooming: early April to mid April
Best place for enjoying the beauty of the flowers: Tanzhe Temple and Temple of Enlightenment

There are two large purple magnolia trees to the east of Bilu Pavilion in Tanzhe Temple. Their old trunks have a diameter of more than a third of a meter, and they are as high as 10-13.3 meters. Their full blooming period is around April 10 every year and their flowers bloom like brilliant clouds, which can be called a grand view. These trees are already 200 years old and their flowers are in nine petals, arranged in three layers. The petals are as long as six inches. Purple magnolias are a popular name, and their grace, nobility and unique and beautiful shape are unparalleled in Beijing, making them one of the best flowers under the heaven.

How to arrive there:
Take Subway Line 1 to the Pingguoyuan Station and then take Bus 931 on the west side after getting out of the subway station to the terminal station. (Recommended)
On Saturdays and Sundays in tourism peak seasons, there are shuttle buses of Beijing Tourist Distribution Center going from the west of Tiananmen directly to Tanzhe Temple.

It's the best choice to go to the thousand-year-old temple to enjoy magnolias in the warm spring. The magnolia festival has been held for many years in Temple of Enlightenment and many people come here every year not only to admire the beauty of the flowers but also to drink tea. According to legend, the magnolia tree in Siyitang Courtyard in the temple was planted by the Buddhist monk Jia Ling in Qing Dynasty, 300 years from now. The ¡°Magnolia and Tea Festival¡± is held every year when the old magnolias bloom. While listening to the music played with zither and pipa near the tree and drinking fresh tea made with clear spring water, tourists can also watch stir-frying of spring tea and performance of various tea shows.

How to arrive there:
1. By bus: take Bus 903 at the Summer Palace, which runs at an interval of half an hour, or take Bus 346 or 933 and transfer to Bus 903 at Zhoujiaxiang.
2. By train: get on the train in Beijing South Railway Station or Fengtai Railway Station and get off at the Temple of Enlightenment.
3. Driving: drive from the Summer Palace, turn left and go along the old road after arriving at the Taidan Dock. There will be a road sign past the Hot Spring.